Commentary: Venerable Prosper Amah: The Making Of A Bishop

^{WRITTEN BY ABUCHI NWOZOR}
The Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria, His Grace, the Most Reverend Nicholas Dikeriehi Okoh, will, on Sunday, June 3, 2018,

consecrate new Bishops for the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. The event will take place at All Saints’ Cathedral Onitsha, beginning at 10am.
The consecration followed the vacuum created by the retirement of some Bishops and translation of others to various Dioceses. The new Bishops to be consecrated were elected during the just concluded standing committee of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion at the Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew, Benin, Edo state. Among those to be made Bishop is Venerable Prosper Afamefuna Amah, who is the bishop-elect for Ogbaru Diocese.
Venerable Amah was elected the Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese following the translation of its pioneer Bishop, Right Reverend Samuel Chukwudi Ezeofor, PhD, to Aguata Diocese, who is also serving as supervising Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese. Venerable Prosper Amah did not rise to this Episcopal peak by a sudden flight. It took him many years to gather the necessary qualifications and experience to fit into the mantle of the Bishopric office.
Born on September 15, 1973 into the family of late Mr. Clifford Amah and Mrs. Gladys Amah of Akaboezem Uruagu, Nnewi, Venerable Prosper Amah who is the second Anglican Bishop of Nnewi extraction, attended the Akaboezem Community Primary School Uruagu Nnewi, from 1980 to 1986, and proceeded to the famous Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha between 1988 and 1992.
Venerable Amah was ordained a Deacon in 2000 and made a priest a year after, preferred a canon in 2007 and became an Archdeacon in 2008. Venerable Amah had a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Masters Degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution, as well as other Post Graduate and Advanced courses in church ministry. With these educational backgrounds, Venerable Amah, became the Archdeacon, Ebonesie Archdeaconry and Vicar of Saint Mary’s Church, Isseke, all in Ihiala Diocese.
He was made Chaplain, EFAC, Diocese of Nnewi and later Ihiala. Equally, Venerable Amah was the Administrative Secretary, Diocese of Ihiala; Member, Diocesan Bible Study Committee (Diocese of Nnewi); Member, Church Planning Committee (Diocese of Nnewi), and Member, Nnewi Diocesan Evangelism Committee.
Others are Chaplain, Ihiala Diocesan Lay Readers; Chairman, Diocesan Poultry Management Board; Chairman, Diocesan Investment Committee; Director of Clergy School and Chairman, Bishop’s Examining Chaplains. He has attended various synods at Asaba, Ogbaru and Oru Dioceses, as well as various ordinations in Ihiala, Ogbaru, Oru and Niger West Dioceses as a guest preacher and retreatant respectively. Similarly, Venerable Prosper Amah has attended many conferences, seminars and retreats.
No doubt, Venerable Prosper Amah has contributed immensely to the growth of evangelism in Nigeria. Thus, his choice for the Bishopric office, for all intents and purposes, was well made. Today, in Nigeria, times are hard, in addition to the numerous ills plaguing the nation. This is a period that tests men’s souls and demand the spiritual contributions of people like Venerable Amah to the rescue.
As a Bishop, this new position will give him much leverage to serve the Church of Nigeria to the best of his ability. This is the opportune moment to use his book, “Loose Him and Let Him Go,” to loose his flock and others in bondage of their distresses and various peregrinations. This is the time he can use his spirituality to free the wider society from their tormentors and invisible enemies.
Happily, Venerable Prosper Amah is in good hands. His wife, Uche Amah, a graduate of English Language and a PhD candidate, can supply a bundle of spiritual energy to make his Bishopric office less stressful. As the Editor of, “Arise and Build” magazine, her commitment to Women Ministry and Evangelism cannot be overemphasized.
It is often said that to whom much is given, much is expected. The entire humanity is looking up to Venerable Prosper Amah to perform the feat that made him the choice of the standing committee as a Bishop. Although, courageous, obedient and humble, the Bishop-elect is equal to the task heaped on his young shoulders.
So, as he takes up the mantle of the Bishopric office, come Sunday, June 3, 2018, all and sundry, especially the people of Ogbaru Diocese, should not only support his ministry, but should also welcome him with open arms.